Apple seed oil is a lightweight, nutrient-rich oil extracted from apple seeds through cold pressing. Packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidants, it offers a range of benefits for dry, dull, or sensitive skin.
This article with discuss:
- What is apple seed oil?
- How is apple seed oil made?
- What does apple seed oil smell like?
- What color is apple seed oil?
- What does apple seed oil feel like?
- What is composition of apple seed oil?
- What are the benefits of apple seed oil?
- Does apple seed oil clog pores?
- Summary
- References
What is apple seed oil?
Apple seed oil is a lightweight botanical oil extracted from the seeds of apples through cold pressing. Naturally rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, it offers nourishing benefits for the skin while maintaining a silky, non-greasy feel.
This oil is derived from seeds that would otherwise go to waste in the juice industry, making it a more sustainable, “zero-waste” ingredient.
Fruit seeds are a major by-product of food production. Transforming them into value-added ingredients like apple seed oil helps reduce waste while supporting more sustainable and circular production practices.
How is apple seed oil made?
Apple seed oil is made through a process called cold pressing.
Apple seeds are collected from ripe apples. The seeds are thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt or impurities. Then, they are mechanically crushed or pressed to release the oil.
After extraction, the apple seed oil may undergo additional processes like filtering, refining, and purification to enhance its quality and remove any impurities.
What does apple seed oil smell like?
Apple seed oil has the most delightful aroma.
Top notes of real apple - sweet, complex and mouth-watering, with hintsof marzipan. Fresh, warm and comforting.It smells divine.
Cold-pressed, unrefined apple seed oil has the strongest aroma, whereas processed oil has a faint aroma.
What does apple seed oil feel like?
Apple seed oil has a light and smooth texture and is easily absorbed.
It is often described as being lightweight and non-greasy, which makes it easy to spread and absorb into the skin.
What color is apple seed oil?
Apple seed oil is typically pale yellow to light golden in color.
What is composition of apple seed oil?
Cold-pressed apple seed oil is packed with essential nutrients, including fatty acids, vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols and other antioxidants (Walia et al, 2014;Górnas, 2015).
Fatty acids
Apple seed oil is composed of fatty acids that can soften skin and strengthen your skin barrier.
- 52 - 64% linoleic acid C18:2 (n-6)
- 28 - 34% oleic acid C18:1 (n-9)
- 4 - 8% palmitic acid C16:0
- 1 - 5% stearic acid C18:0
- 1 - 3.5% arachidic acid C20:0
- 1 - 3% alpha-linolenic acid C18:3 (n-3)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble compounds known as tocopherols and tocotrienols.
Vitamin E is a skin conditioning agent, a powerful antioxidant and it can protect your skin against photodamage from the sun.
Apple seed oil has high levels of various forms of vitamin E, including β-tocopherol and α-tocopherol and these vitamins have strong antioxidant activity (Górnas, 2015).
Cold-pressed apple seed oil has high amounts of total vitamin E at 1.43 mg/g (Pieszka et al 2015).
Apple seed oil is a rich source of tocopherols, with:
- 0.62 mg/g beta-tocopherol
- 0.41 mg/g alpha-tocopherol
- 0.21 mg/g delta-tocopherol
- 0.13 mg/g gamma-tocopherol
Apple seed oil also contains tocotrienols, with:
- 0.03 mg/g gamma-tocotrienol
- 0.01 mg/g alpha-tocotrienol
Carotenoids
Carotenoids have strong antioxidant activity and play a role in protecting your skin against oxidative damage.
Apple seed oil has been shown to contain carotenoid concentrations from 0.001 to 0.016 mg/g. Various carotenoids, including all-trans-violaxanthin, 9-cis-violaxanthin, all-trans-lutein, all-trans-zeaxanthin, all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-β-carotene, and 9-cis-β-carotene were identified in apple seed oils (Fromm et al, 2012).
Polyphenols
Apple seed oil is rich in polyphenols that have strong antioxidant activity.
The total amounts of polyphenols in apple seed oil has been shown to range from 3.9 to 26.3 mg/g (Fromm et al, 2012).
Phloridzin is the most abundant polyphenol of apple seed oil, accounting for 79 to 92% of the polyphenols (Fromm et al, 2012).
The other minor polyphenols in apple seed oil include phloretin-2'-xyloglucoside, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), p-coumaroylquinic acid and (−)epicatechin(Fromm et al, 2012).
Phytosterols
Phytosterols such as sitosterol are potent antioxidants.
Cold-pressed apple seed oil has been shown to contain phytosterols at 3.460 mg/g, including:
- 2.629 mg/g sitosterol
- 0.347 mg/g avenasterol
- 0.249 mg/g sitostanol
- 0.219 mg/g campesterol
- 0.013 mg/g stigmasterol
(Pieszka et al 2015)
What are the benefits of apple seed oil?
Apple seed oil is more than just a nutrient-rich oil, it’s a luxurious, skin-loving ingredient that softens, nourishes, and protects dry skin.
Softens and smooths the skin
Lightweight and fast-absorbing, apple seed oil penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy residue. Its rich blend of essential fatty acids and emollients helps restore suppleness, smooth rough patches, and leave skin feeling soft, plump, and hydrated.
Relieves dryness and flaking
Dry skin often feels tight, rough, or dull, with visible flaking or scaling. The fatty acids in apple seed oil help replenish the skin’s lipids, reducing flakiness and smoothing rough textures. Over time, regular use can improve skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of fine lines, leaving skin looking healthier and more radiant.
Protects and strengthens the skin barrier
Apple seed oil is naturally rich in linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid; fatty acids that support a strong, resilient skin barrier. A healthy barrier locks in moisture, protects against environmental stressors, and keeps skin soft and comfortable. This makes apple seed oil particularly effective at preventing chapping, cracking, and other signs of dryness caused by wind, sun, or cold weather.
A natural shield for dry skin
By reinforcing the skin’s moisture barrier, apple seed oil not only nourishes but also protects skin against the elements, helping maintain a smooth, dewy, and youthful appearance. It’s a true multitasker, nourishing, conditioning, and protecting all at once.
Does apple seed oil clog pores?
Apple seed oil is generally considered to have a low comedogenic rating, which means it is less likely to clog pores compared to oils with higher comedogenic ratings. However, it's important to note that individual reactions to oils can vary, and what works well for one person may not necessarily work for another.
Apple seed oil is rich in oleic acid, which may be comedogenic in high amounts (Motoyoshi et al, 1983).
If you have acne and at risk of clogged pores, you may want to pass on apple seed oil.
Apple seed oil is best for dry skin.
Summary
Apple seed oil is a nutrient-rich, cold-pressed oil extracted from apple seeds, naturally golden in color and carrying the fresh, sweet aroma of apples.
Its light, fast-absorbing texture makes it ideal for nourishing and moisturizing the skin. Rich in beneficial fatty acids, including n-6 linoleic acid, n-9 oleic acid, and palmitic acid, apple seed oil helps soften and smooth the skin while supporting a healthy skin barrier.
Packed with vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenols and phytosterols, it also provides strong antioxidant activity to help protect the skin from environmental stressors.
Cold-pressed and unrefined, apple seed oil has a naturally fresh, warm, and comforting scent that evokes the aroma of real apples.
At Dry Skin Love, our Apple 5% Vitamin E Face Oil harnesses the nourishing power of cold-pressed apple seed oil to leave your skin feeling hydrated, soft, and radiant.
References
Acid, L. (1987). Final report on the safety assessment of oleic acid, laurie acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, and stearic acid.J. Am. Coll. Toxicol,6, 321-401.
Bakrim S, Benkhaira N, Bourais I, Benali T, Lee LH, El Omari N, Sheikh RA, Goh KW, Ming LC, Bouyahya A. Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Stigmasterol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Sep 27;11(10):1912.
Fromm M, Bayha S, Carle R, Kammerer DR.Characterization and quantitation of low and high molecular weight phenolic compounds in apple seeds.J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 8;60(5):1232-42.
Fromm M., Bayha S., Kammerer D.R., Carle R. Identification and quantitation of carotenoids and tocopherols in seed oils recovered from different rosaceae species.J. Agric. Food Chem.2012;60:10733–10742.
Górnas P (2015)Unique variability of tocopherol composition in various seed oils recovered from by-products of apple industry: rapid and simple determination of all four homologues (α, β, γ and δ) by RP-HPLC/FLD. Food Chem 172:129–134.
Motoyoshi K. Enhanced comedo formation in rabbit ear skin by squalene and oleic acid peroxides. Br J Dermatol. 1983 Aug;109(2):191-8.
Pieszka, M., Migdał, W., Gąsior, R., Rudzińska, M., Bederska-Łojewska, D., Pieszka, M., & Szczurek, P. (2015). Native oils from apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry seeds as a source of polyenoic fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols: A health implication.Journal of Chemistry,2015.
Thiele JJ,Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S.Vitamin E in human skin: organ-specific physiology and considerations for its use in dermatology.Mol Aspects Med. 2007 Oct-Dec;28(5-6):646-67.
Walia M, Rawat K, Bhushan S, Padwad YS, Singh B.Fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of apple seed oil obtained from apple pomace.J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Mar 30;94(5):929-34.
Author Information
Dr. Natasha Ryz is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare. With over 10 years of experience as a formulator and a strong scientific foundation, Dr. Ryz creates products that combine the best of nature and science for transformative results.
She trained in Organic Skincare Formulation at Formula Botanica and took the Skincare Specialist Program at the School of Natural Skincare, with over 200 hours of specialized education. Dr. Ryz also holds a diploma in Beauty Brand Business Management.
Dr. Ryz’s scientific background includes a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia, and she has over 15 years of research experience in microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry. This expertise informs every product she formulates, ensuring exceptional quality, efficacy, and luxury.